Enclosed kite-type detector carrier



ENCLOSED KITE-TYPE DETECTOR CARRIER Original Filed March '7, 1942 I vINVENTOR. 7 T W 21 John 'WfiucZe ATTORNEYJ} Patented Jan. 1, 1952 JohnFlude, Houston, Tex.

Original applications September 16, 1939, Serial No. 295,198, and March7, 1942, Serial No. 433,731. Divided and this application June '4, 1947,SerialNo. 752,471

.3 Claims.

This invention relates to detector carriers for seismographicexploration and is .a divisionalwof S. Patent. No. 2;283,200, datedMayi19, I942,

a divisional of United States Patent No. 2,423,591,

dated July 8, 1947.

The-invention is directed to combined electrical and mechanicaldevicesior making geophysical investigations in locating and definingsubterranean; underwater deposits.

Seismog-raphic exploration of sub-surface formations, particularly suchas contain oil, salt that a light beam, reflected by amirror on thegalvanometer, records ground waves on a mov- "ing strip-ofphoto-sensitive material;

When the seismograph is placed in-a precietermined position, withrespect to one or more shot points, it records the amplitude andfrequency of thereflectecl'and refracted Waves resulting from a shockcreated at such. points.

Analysis of the developed photographic strip enables a geophysicist todetermine, with fair accuracy, the nature of the sub-surface formationsat various levels between the detectors-and shot points.

The principal object of the invention is to provide apparatus to carryinto effect the steps of the method disclosed in Patent No. 2,283,200,dated May 19, 1942.

A specific object of the invention is the provision of a towing cablehaving a number of taps so that a plurality of detectors may be towedand used in predetermined spaced relationship.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide a holder for adetector so constructed that the detector may be readily lowered orraised at a predetermined location.

A further object is the provision of a detector holder which will risesubstantially in a vertical path from the bottom for use where thebottom may be uneven or rocky.

These and other objects are accomplished by the novel construction,combination and ar rangement of parts hereinafter described and shown inthe accompanying drawings, constituting a material component of thisdisclosure, and in which:

Figure 1 isxa side view of .a complete embodiment of this invention,partially broken away to show the construction.

FigureZ is a top'planyiiew of the carrier shown Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan View of the carrier.

Figure 4 is :a side elevation of a plurality of detector carriers,according to this invention in- .corporatedi-nto a tow.

Referring to the drawings, and. particularly to Figures 1 and: 2, I 0and l I indicate twohollow concentric cylinders joined by a plurality ofradially extending fins or blades 1:2. The upper portion. of .the innercylinder 11] iswconstructed in the form ofcan. airtight buoyantchamber1.3 by sealing the upper end with a conical member 14 and securing adisk-like diaphragm I15 somewhat above the central portion of thecylinder. A lower chamber [6 is thus provided. below the diaphragm l5 inthecylinder It. A detector or other seismic instrument (not shown) maybe housed within .the chamber l6. Athreadedaplug 11, adapted to bescrewed into the internally threaded base It of the cylinder m, sealsthe bottom of the lower chamber H3. The plug .1] retains the seismicinstrument in place and is provided with suitable recesses 19 so "thatit may be removedquickly'by means of ,a spanner wrench or similar tool.The plug I! may also be weighted to insure the correct positioning ofthe carrier .upon the ocean bottom.

One of the fins. I2 :is extended beyond the periphery of the outercylinder II, and portions 20 of the outer cylinder H are bent outwardlyto extend parallel in contact therewith. This construction provides areinforced external fin 2| to which a towing cable 22 may be attached asthrough a connection 23 secured to the carrier by pins 24. The pins 24are thrust through one of a plurality of apertures 25 provided in thesaid fin 2!.

An aperture 26 is provided in the inner cylinder Ill and a secondaperture 21 is formed in the outer cylinder ll, so that the detector,01' seismic instrument within the carrier chamber I6 may be connected tothe apparatus aboard the towing vessel (not shown), as by conductors 28disposed within the towing cable.

The above described carrying device is of very sturdy construction andis adapted to be towed through the water without excessive resistance.When the towing cable 22 is secured by clevis arrangement, such as thatshown at 23, to one of the apertures 25 in the outwardly extending fin2|, the device assumes an oblique position in the water, the specificangle of obliquity bein determined by the particular aperture to whichthe cable 22 is connected.

When the towing cable 22 is slacked ofi, the device settles to thebottom in the approximate position illustrated in Figure 4, the buoyancyof the chamber I3 and the weight of the detector in the chamber l6,together with the Weight of the plug l1 assisting in this respect.

As the device settles to the bottom, the movement of water through thespace between the respective cylinders l0, H and along the faces of thefins I2, further insures the downward movement of the device in asubstantially upright position.

When tension is again placed on the towing cables 22, the guidingsurfaces again come into play and the device rises substantiallyvertically from its position on the bottom, gradually turning in thedirection in which it is towed, until it assumes its normal obliquetowing position.

Under certain conditions it may be desirable to connect the towing cableto the apex of the cone 14 in order to insure movement of the carrierthrough the Water in the direction of its longitudinal axis.

Figure 4 illustrates the manner in which a plurality of these enclosedkite type detector carriers may be incorporated into a tow by securingthem to the ends of taps 29 leading from the main towing cable 22. Inthis way, a plurality of readings may be taken at the same time.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. An apparatus for towing an instrument through the water comprising,concentric cylindrical casings, a conical member overlying one end ofthe innermost cylinder, a plug insertable within the end of theinnermost cylinder opposite the conical member, a disc-like membertransversely carried within the innermost casing intermediate the endsthereof, said conical member, plug and disc being adapted to divide theinterior of the innermost casing so as to form a watertight buoyancychamber between the conical member and th disc and a watertightinstrument-holding chamber between the disc and plug, a plurality offins extending radially from said innermost casing and connecting theconcentric casings together and tie means comprising pierced outwardlyfiared flanges on the outer casing and an extended fin therebetween,said fin being adapted to be secured to the end of a towing line.

2. An apparatus for towing an instrument through the water comprising,concentric cylindrical casings, a conical member overlying one end ofthe innermost cylinder, ballast means comprising a plug insertablewithin the end of the innermost cylinder opposite the conical member, adisc-like member transversely carried Within the innermost casingintermediate the ends thereof, said conical member, plug and disc beingadapted to divide the interior of the innermost casing so as to form awatertight buoyancy chamber between the conical member and the disc anda watertight instrument-holding chamber between the disc and plugwherein the plug closes the instrument chamber and constitutes ballastwhereby the buoyancy chamber and instrument chamber assume a generallyupright position upon cessation of towing, a plurality of fins extendingradially from said innermost casing and connecting the concentriccasings together and tie means comprising pierced outwardly flaredflanges on the outer casing and an extended fin therebetween, said finbeing adapted to be secured to the end of a towing line.

3. An apparatus for towing an instrument through the water comprising,concentric cylindrical casings, a conical member overlying one end ofthe innermost cylinder, a plug insertable within the end of theinnermost cylinder opposite the conical 'member, a disc-like membertransversely carried within the innermost casing intermediate the endsthereof, said conical member, plug and disc being adapted to .divide theinterior of the innermost casing so as to form a Watertight buoyancychamber between the comcal member and the disc and a watertightinstrument-holding chamber between the disc and plug,

a plurality of fins extending radially from said innermost casing and.connecting the concentric casings together, one of said fins extendingthrough said outer casing and having means thereon for attaching atowing line to said extending fin.

JOHN W. FLUDE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,315,122 Henslee Sept. 2, 19191,343,969 Hampton June 22, 1920

